Does Your Business Work for Mobile Users? Three Design Tips
A recent post on Business Week "The Tech Beat" confirms my casual observation that "Wi-Fi Hotspot Use Shifts from Laptops to Handhelds"
More people are accessing Wi-Fi hotspots at cafes and airports via handheld devices, according to a new study from In-Stat. While, last year, devices like smartphones accounted for 20% of total connects to Wi-Fi hotspots, in 2009 that number jumped to 35%. And by 2011, smartphones should account for half of hotspot connects — and challenge laptops’ dominance of Wi-Fi hotspots, In-Stat estimates. more
For the last month I've been "on the road" and away from my desktop. I've been almost totally reliant on my iPhone for all my online activities. I can attest to the fact that many businesses will need to retool their web presence to accommodate the new flood of smartphone / handheld users.
My web design skills topped out with FrontPage '98 so I'm in no position to offer design specifics. But here's a few end user observations based on my smartphone-only month.
1. Internet cafes, keep your wifi login simple. I'm not applying for a mortgage - I just want to use your wifi connection. My favorite login is at Portland Oregon's Ace Hotel. (iPhone screenshot at left) A simple button you "press." It "toggles in" and you are online. No disclaimer to read / agree.
2. Businesses, pay your web designer a few extra bucks and have her develop a second mobile version of your website. Check out the Amazon mobile web version on a smartphone - fast, functional and fully integrated with typical Amazon account functions.
3. Businesses, if you don't develop a mobile version of your site, at least kill off your graphic - intensive splash page. I'm surprised at the number of businesses that have a start page that isn't even visible on my iPhone. No links to click on - no way into your site from my phone. You own a restaurant. I'm in town looking for a place to eat. Did you think I'd bring my desktop? Your site doesn't even talk nice to Yelp!
OK - I'm done ranting. Happy new year to all my readers.
Technical note: I broke down and dragged my laptop to a Portland cafe to post this. Their wifi login disclaimer runs - 5 pages, 22 paragraphs, 1379 words and has a 16 pixel "I agree button" buried at the bottom of the page. 'Nuff said.
Does Your Business Work for Mobile Users? Three Design Tips
A recent post on Business Week "The Tech Beat" confirms my casual observation that "Wi-Fi Hotspot Use Shifts from Laptops to Handhelds"
For the last month I've been "on the road" and away from my desktop. I've been almost totally reliant on my iPhone for all my online activities. I can attest to the fact that many businesses will need to retool their web presence to accommodate the new flood of smartphone / handheld users.
My web design skills topped out with FrontPage '98 so I'm in no position to offer design specifics. But here's a few end user observations based on my smartphone-only month.
2. Businesses, pay your web designer a few extra bucks and have her develop a second mobile version of your website. Check out the Amazon mobile web version on a smartphone - fast, functional and fully integrated with typical Amazon account functions.
3. Businesses, if you don't develop a mobile version of your site, at least kill off your graphic - intensive splash page. I'm surprised at the number of businesses that have a start page that isn't even visible on my iPhone. No links to click on - no way into your site from my phone. You own a restaurant. I'm in town looking for a place to eat. Did you think I'd bring my desktop? Your site doesn't even talk nice to Yelp!
OK - I'm done ranting. Happy new year to all my readers.
Technical note: I broke down and dragged my laptop to a Portland cafe to post this. Their wifi login disclaimer runs - 5 pages, 22 paragraphs, 1379 words and has a 16 pixel "I agree button" buried at the bottom of the page. 'Nuff said.
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